Monitoring and Data Interpretation in Geohazard Assessment

Meet Bailey, Jeff, and Christie at the 2026 International Pipeline Conference and Expo (IPCE) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on September 21 through 25.

Understanding and Prioritizing Pipeline Geohazards Challenges

One of the biggest challenges pipeline operators face in understanding and managing geohazards is the volume of data and evolving research. "Pipeline owners have thousands to tens of thousands of miles of pipelines. These pipelines cross the country, passing through many different terrains and climates. As a result, different combinations of factors can contribute to problems," says Bailey.

"Pipeline operators struggle with how to prioritize risk across sites because there are so many sites to assess. Understanding which pose the greatest threat to their assets is a big job," says Jeff.

Christie notes, "I have intelligent, engaged, and interested clients, but they never took a class on seismic hazard analysis. It's a challenge for them to incorporate this rapidly evolving, research-heavy area into their geohazard management program."

Technology has quickly advanced over the past 15 years. Bailey notes that geohazards management was previously conducted through a reactive approach, with practitioners and operators often learning there was an issue only after something happened at a site. She says that advances in GIS, LiDAR, and aerial imagery, proactive hazard identification easier, but they have also increased the volume of data. "Understanding what to use and how to use it to identify the biggest problems means weeding through thousands of miles of pipeline data."

Using Data to Make Geohazard Identification Easier

All three practitioners spoke about how the expansion of available data, along with advances in data management and interpretation, can help identify geohazards and inform site-specific responses.

For earthquake risk, Christie explains that by using additional data from recorded events, scientists can build regional ground motion models. "For earthquakes, there is no monitoring program because there's no predictable precursor to an earthquake. However, there is much more data available now than 30 years ago. We have recorded event data from sites around the world, so researchers and practitioners have been able to refine models to be region-specific."

"Non-incidents are also a good learning tool. When a pipeline is subject to a geohazard and remains intact, owners and operators can learn from the success of that design and recognize that it is possible to design for and mitigate earthquake-related hazards," says Christie.

Bailey adds, "We often use national datasets in combination with our own data and then apply our expertise to the combined information. For example, for hydrotechnical hazards, we start with the National Hydrography Dataset, which is a database of rivers and streams across the country. This gives us preliminary information about the nature of a stream or river. Is it small? Is it large? How much water flows through it? What type of stream is it?" Using public data as a starting point can help practitioners efficiently filter down to a subset of sites that require higher-resolution data and practitioner expertise to better understand potential geohazard threats.

"We also see that the availability of more data is leading to new research," says Jeff. "The variability we found in recent scour calculations led Geosyntec to participate in a research project with the Pipeline Research Consortium International." Bailey adds, "Collective research is ongoing, and it helps us understand which datasets and assessment approaches are most effective."

Adding Value to Geohazard Identification

As the amount of data has multiplied, practitioner expertise is more necessary than ever to choose which geohazards to investigate and address.

"As subject matter experts, it's our job to help our clients understand risk, which includes both the probability of an event and the consequences of that event," says Jeff. He continues, "We weigh in on the probability and natural processes that might lead to an event so clients can consider the business risk and cost implications. We are giving operators the information they need to make informed decisions."

"Not every site deserves the same level of assessment. As practitioners, we ask, 'How can we reduce the number of sites that need investigation? How do we narrow the list down to the threats that warrant extra attention?' That's where our expertise comes in: understanding the datasets and their limitations. We're helping clients figure out where to focus their resources to reduce risk and keep their pipelines in service," adds Bailey.

Christie continues, "We also know that landscapes and hazards are changing over time. In a recent project in Texas and Oklahoma, we helped an operator update its emergency response procedure for earthquakes." She notes that the previous procedure didn't account for the number of new earthquakes occurring in that area due to wastewater disposal activities. By developing new magnitude and distance thresholds for the operator, Geosyntec helped reduce the number of unnecessary inspections and ultimately save money. "We don't make decisions for our clients; instead, we supply them with the right information at the right time so they can incorporate it into their geohazard management program and make informed decisions."

About our Geohazards Practitioners at IPCE

Bailey Theriault is a Senior Principal Geologist based in New Hampshire with more than 15 years of experience focused on assessing and managing geohazards for major oil and gas clients in the United States and Canada. She is the Senior Services Director for Onshore Energy for our Geohazards Operations. Bailey will present "Optimizing the Approach to Hydrotechnical Hazard Assessment" at IPCE on Tuesday, September 22.

Jeff Schneider is a Senior Principal Engineer based in Wisconsin with more than 15 years of consulting experience in geotechnical and hydrotechnical engineering and geohazard assessment and mitigation. He specializes in geohazard risk evaluation and mitigation related to pipelines and energy infrastructure. Jeff will present "Input Parameter Sensitivity in Empirical Scour Calculations at Pipeline River Crossings" at IPCE on Tuesday, September 22.

Christie Hale is a Senior Seismic Hazard Analyst at Geosyntec, based in Texas, with more than 15 years of experience in seismic hazard analysis and seismic safety assessment projects. Christie evaluates seismic hazards for critical infrastructure projects, including pipelines, dams, mining and tailings facilities, and landfills. She will present "Applying New Tools from Research to Earthquake-Geohazard Projects for Pipelines" at IPCE on Wednesday, September 23.